Posts
 |
| Kai at the summit of Mt Kenya |
I am constantly amazed at the calibre of youth the new South Africa is producing - environmentally aware, socially responsible and enthusiastic and motivated. Like our young friend, Kai Fitchen who at just 18 years of age has recently returned from a five-month trip from Cape Town to Kenya, ending with the summit of Mount Kenya.
 |
| Kai in conversation with local kids |
The aims of the trip were to travel sustainably, raise awareness of environmental issues among school children, and to climb Mt Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa.
Sustainable travel involved using public transport as far as possible - buses, taxis, trains and at times bicycles. Although he had some hair-raising experiences (drunk bus drivers, fights breaking out on trains) he found the public transport at least 90% reliable and was able to get there and back in one piece.
 |
| washing hands - water sanitation program in Malawi |
In the various villages where he stopped he visited schools, engaging with children creatively, spending time outdoors and discussing the way environmental issues were personally affecting their lives. Living in a town like Livingstone with Victoria Falls as a background makes it easy to engage with nature. Deforestation is a very real problem for them and Kai had Greenpop (a social enterprise involved in urban greening and reforestation) as a support. In Malawi, sanitation was the burning issue.
Mt Kenya, although not quite as high as the very popular Kilimanjaro, is technically a much more difficult climb. Added to that was the sleet, rock falls and cold winds to contend with while living on a diet of peanuts and bananas. But Kai describes the experience as "humbling, the best experience I have ever had...to see the potential in Southern Africa...". He is already talking about the next trip...what an inspiration!
For more about his trip, visit:
http://greensparks-kai.blogspot.com/Pictures are courtesy of Kai Fitchen
No comments:
Post a Comment